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Chief Justice Sir Archibald Nedd announced in the High C urt on September
16th that he would not be hearing the arguments on the "contempt" motion
filed by the Defence in the "Maurice Bishop" murder trial against Com-
missioner of Prisons Lionel Maloney.

"I disqualify myself in this matter", he said, "since Febriary, I know
too much about the allegations and rebuttals made".

The motion arises out of a "consent" order issued by Sir Archibald on
Autu.-t 23rd instructing Mr. Maloney to permit Defence Counsel to see
their clients daily, Sunday to Satu-ri-y. The order also set out a
variety of conditions under which the accused in this case must be held.

On August 28th, the Defence filed the motion alleging that Mr. Maloney
had not --.:mri1ed with Sir Archibald's order and, for this alleged con-
tempt, asking that he be "forthwith committed to Richmond Hill Prison".

Sir Archibald said the hearing of the motion would be transferred to
number 2 H-: I Court which is presided over by Mr. Justice James Patterson.
A-date was to be fixed.

Seven days later, on September 23rd, Sir Archibald, 69, said in an inter-
view that he would leave the Bench on 31st December next. The Chief
Justice is now -ompleting his second one year contract entered into with
the Government of Grenada.

This development may have a further delaying effect on the "Maurice Bish- j
op" murder trial as this matter is now before Sir Archibald who plans to
go on vacation about the middle of November,

S17T AU

Page 2 THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER Week Ending 28/9/85

That trfia l-has--tren 'eard"'sa's& matter of emergency during the Court's vac-
ation, but that vacation came to an end on September 16th and the regular
Assizes begin qn pctober 8th.

As of .now, the' "Mlaurice Bishop" trial is scheduled to begin on October 1st
but' wiith Sir Archibald's pending retirement, it may be put on the Assize
list for regular treatment.

Sir Archibald qualified as a barrister at the Inner Temple, London, in
1938 and has served in Nigeria and the Caribbean.

"I have no immediate plans for the future", he said, "except to get on with
the writing of my memoirs".

It was announced last April that ,Mr. Ncdd had been knighted and, on 30th
July last, he was "dubbed" in London by Queen Elizabeth,

DEFENCE MC'OTTC DISMISSED

Mr. Justice James patterson in the Grenada High Court on September 18th
told Jamaican Defence Barrister Earl Witter, appearing for 17 accused in
the"Maurice Bishop" murder trial, that he cannot expect "to whistle and
drink soup at the same time".

Before Mr& Patterson was a motion filed by the Defence citing Commissioner
of prisons Lionel Maloney for contempt of Court. Mr. Witter, earlier in
the hearing, had indicated he would like the matter dealt with speedily and
Mr. Patterson s remark was made when, later in the day, Mr. Witter asked for
an adjournment

The contempt motion arises out of an order made on Mr. Maloney by Chief Just-
ice sir Archibald Nedd setting out conditions under which the accused in this
case, as untried prisoners, must be held in prison.

The Defence alleges the Commissioner has not complied with the order and the
Motion seeks to have Mrs Maloney "forthwith committed to Richmond Hill Pris-
on".

It Court on September 18th, however, Mr. Witter, who was the only one present.
of the Defence Team, told Mrt Patterson the Defence would like the hearings
on this matter adjourned without fixing a date.

S"Since the motion was filed, I am pleased to say there has been an improve-
ment in the conditions of:the accused", he said "and it appears that Com-
missioner Maloney 'is now disposed to comply with the terms of the order"' i

If the hearing is adjourned without fixiri- a date, he said, if, at any time,
there is a deterioration in thv situation at the prison, the Defence can come
Back to the Court for redress. . continued-
..'.-

Wiek Ending 28/9/15 THT CGREIADA NEWSLETTER Page 3

The prosecution bench was occupied that day only by Director of Public Pro-
secutions (DPP) Mrs. Velma Hylton 1.C., and she told Mr. Patterson the con-
tempt motion is not properly before the Court and the matter should be
struck off.

The motion was filed during the Court vacation, she said, and, in those cir-
cumstances, the Defence should have suglht permission from a Judge in Chamb-
ers to file.. ..This was not done, she said, and she further objected to ad-
journing the matter without fixing a date as this would leave a "sword of
Damocles" over Mr. Maloney's head.

Mt. Witter argued that, from the rules of the Supr-rm Court, no permission
was required to file the motion. Further, he said, Mr. Maloneyhad not
pit in an appearance in Court, as the rules require, and this means the
Commissioner and.his Counsel, the DPP, cannot be heard.

Mrs. Hylton's reply to this was that it is required that the order be serv-
ed on Mr, Maloney personally. That had not been done, she said, so he was
not required to appear in Court.

Mr. Witter contended that Mr. Maloney should have made a "conditional ap-
pearance" but the' Defence Barrister seemed willing not to push this point
if he could get the adjournment he wanted.

"I 'am minded to take my seat and let my learned friend the DPP agree now to

an adjournment until a date after 29th September", he said. "Her attitude
will guide my course of action".

The DPP was not willing, however, and Mr. Witter told the Court he had
"tried his best".

"I sought to render charity but it was not appreciated", he said. "The
attitude of Commissioner Maloney, 'hrc:il'h his Counsel, is one of arrogance
and defiance of the rules of Court".

Mr. Witter told Mr. Patterson there was urgent business which he must at-
tend to in the Jamaica Courts and he wished to fly there on the next day.
He asked for an adjournment until a date after September 29th. But MrAPat-
terson said he was unwilling to leave the matter hnainG over Mr. Maloney's
head.

"The easy way out of this is for you to withdraw the motion now and, if
necessary at a later datei come to the Court with another motion", he told
Mr. Witter.

,But the Defence Barrister would not Agrcc. Once before, he said, such a
motion had been brcuplht by the Defence a-.inst Mr. Maloney and, when it was
withdrawn, the conditions at the prison deteriorated.

: On the following day (19th) Mr. Witter continued his address to the Court
and repeated his argument that Mr. Maloney and his Counsel, cannot be heard

page 4 THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER Week Ending 28/9/85

by the Court because Mr. Maloney had not put in an appearance.

He argued, too, that the Commissioner could not then put in an appearance
without special leave of the Court as the time for taking this action had
passed.

Mr. Witter said Mrs Hylton was then bringing forward points of objection
which had been ignored until that time. That was not in keeping with the
spirit which had existed between the prosecution and Defence, he said, but
it is possible for two to play at that game.

"The Commissioner and his Counsel have no right to be heard-in Court", he
said, "and, in the light of the attitude of the prosecution, I stand on that
submission".

Replying to Mrs. Hylton's charge that the order had not been served on Mr.
Maloney, personally, Mr. ;litter pointed out, among other things, that the
Court has the discretion to waive this service. He spoke for some time on
this issue and was told by Mr. Patterson that he could "safely pass on to the
next point".

"I must remind Yar Lordship of the Barrister who argued in Court for several
days but, nevertheless, lost his case", Mr. Witter said to Mr. Patterson.
"Taking the matter to the Appeal Court, he spent two days explaining to the-
Justices of that Court what the legal term 'fee simple' means. Having been
assured by the president of the Court that he could take it for granted that
the Justices knew exactly what that common legal term means, he replied,
'M'Lud, thank you, but that is just the mistake I made in the Lower Court'".

Mr. Patterson adjourned the Court until Monday 23rd September and, when it
sat Mr. Witter took objection to a document p-ssed to the Trial Judge by Mrs.
Hylton.

Mrs. Hylton said the document set out her previous submissions in the.hearing
of the contempt motion a:a.inst Commissioner of Prisons Lionel Maloney, but
Mr. Witter argued that it was not proper for Mr. Patterson to consider that
document

The Defence Liwy'r said Mr. Maloney had not put in an appearance in Court as
he is required in law to do and therefore, he and his Counsel, the DPP, have
no "locus stand" (re...:Lnition) before the Court.

"If this is permitted", Mr. Witter said, "then any stranger can come into
Court and hand in documents which may be detrimental to my clients".

The Defence Lawyer wanted an assurance from Mr. Fatterson that he (O'itter)
would be heard on this matter but Mr. Patterson said his ruling is that the
document is properly before the Court.

-continued-
-I

"-:e.k Ending 7-//" Ti ,PZ!'!JAA HE"'SLETTER page 5
i-

"You have r1iled on a document on which you:have not heard me", Mr. Witter
said, "and I find that I stand at certain peril on a point of great signi-
ficance't

"I will not hear any arguments on a matter I consider infinitisimal",Mr.
patterson replied, "please proceed as I do not want to waste any time".

At Mr. Patterson's request, Mr. Witter set out the six points in the sub-
missions put forward by Mrs. Hylton and to which he Is mkkin, his preltmit-
ary replies.

The first two, dealt with in the hearings the previous week, are:-

('1) that, as required by the rules of the Court, the leave of
the Court was not sought to file the'contempt of Court mo-
tion .g:inst Mr, Maloney during the Court vacation period.

(2) that since the motion asks for an adjournment to permit
the Defence to effect "personal service" of the Court order
oh Mr. Maloney, that is proof that such service, which is
required by the rules of the Court, had not been done.

In the hearings during the previous week, Mr. Witter argued that, with re-
spect to (1), the rules of the Court demand that, during the vacation per-
iod, permission mustbe sought to hear notion but no permission is re-
quired for the filing of a motion.

With reference to (2), Mr. Witter pointed out that 'the contempt motion fil-
ed by the Defence requests that the Court use its discretion, as it can, and
waive the r.qi irement for personal service of the motion on Mr. Maloney.

This request, he said, must be considered first before the Court could think
of strikir. out the motion for lack of personal service as requested by the
) Prosecution.

Mr. Witter dealt with point (3) of the prosecution which is that the De-
fence ought not to have filed a motion to jail Mr. Maloney for contempt of.
Court before the Court order, which he is allegedly in contempt of, had been
served on him p-rsonrlly.

His answer to this Mr. Witter said, is the same as with reference to point
(2), in that the motion requests the Court to waive the requirement for
personal service.

Point (4) put forward by the prosecution was that, even if the Court'order
was filed on Mr. Maloney, the rules of the Court demand that, attached to
that order should have been a notice warning Mr. Maloney of the c.n:q'.quin-
ces of his disobeying what the order commands.

Mr. Witter argued here -ipin that a request is made in the motion to dis-
pense with the requirement for personal service, and, if theCourt grants
-continued-

page 6 THE 'GENTADA NEWSLETTER Week Ending 28/9/85

this, the need for the warning notice to Mr. Maloney will disappear.

"If the need for service of the Court order is removed at the discretion of
the Court", he said, "then the netd for the notice of warning to Mr. Maloney
also is removed because the notice has no existence of its own, it must be
attached to the order.

The Prosecution's point (5) is that the Court order does not state, as re-
quired by the rules of the Court, the time within which Mr. Maloney was sup-
posed to act on the directions of the order.

Mr. Witter said the arguments now before Mr. Patterson are "in limine" (on
the borders of the matter) and this point should not be gone into in depth
by Counsel until the details of the motion are being argued.

Mr. Patterson told Mr. hitterr he did not want to hear any arguments with re-
ference to point (6) put forward by the Prosecution. That point is that
there should be no adjournment of the matter, as requested by the Defence,
as this would result in holding a "sword of Damocles" over Mr. Maloney's
head and this would tend to impair discipline at the prison.

When the Court sat on the following day (24th) Mr. Patterson delivered his
judgement in favour of the prosecution.

The Judge said he would deal first of all with tir. Hitters argument that
neither Mr. Maloney nor his Counsel could be heard because MF, baloney had
not made an aprvarance.

"I can deal with that point right away", Mr. Patterson said as he began his
judgement. "Even if Mr. Maloney hhd not made an nnrparance in Court, he
could be heard by the Court through his Counsel as an amicuss curiae'(friend
of the Court)".

The result of this matter npp ..r-,r to rest, principally, on the question of
whether Mr. Maloney had been served, personally, with the Court order .as is
demanded by the rules of the Court.

The Defence put forward the argument that a copy of the order had been left
at Mr. Maloney's office and Mr. Witter pointed out also that the contempt
motion contained an appeal to the Court to waive the requirement of personal
service, a discretion which the Court can exercise.

In his judgement, Mr. Patterson said that "personal service" means exactly
that, the Court order should have been served on Mr. Maloney, personally.
Leaving a copy of the order at his office was not personal service, he said.

"With reference to the request that the Court waive the requirement for per-
sonal service", he said, "such a request can come when there is evidence
that the person on whom the document is to be served is evading service, but
no evidence has been put forward in this connection,, -o nued-
. -continued-

Week Ending 28/9/85 THE GRDI'ADA NE'ISLETTOR Page 7

The Judge found in favour of the Prosecution and ordered the Defence to pay
costs in the sum of EIr2,5100, this sum to be paid before any similar mo-
tion is filed with the Court.

*"Because the relevant rules prescribe th-t I do so .t the earliest opport-
unity", Mr. Witter told Mr. patterson, "I must advise Y-ur Lordship that we
intend to .-pp.r:il this judgement".

The Defence already has another motion filed alleging contempt of court
cgnin- t Mr. Maloney. This motion is similar to the one dismissed by Mr.
Patterson and it has been set down for hearing on October 3rd. A source
close to the Defence said personal service had not yet been made on Mr. Mal-
oney as the date of the hearing was fixed only on September 23rd.

AI,,'HER ,:H LL:rGE 'T C','T. T

The Defence in the "Maurice Bishop" murder trial on September 26th filed
another motion.

This motion, while introducing a new aspect, bears similarity to two mo-
tions filed previously by the Defence challenging the validity of the Gre-
nada Supreme Court established by the Peoples Revolutirnrrv Government af-
ter the 1979 revolution.

The first of these motions, filed late last'year,argued that the Grenada'
Supreme Court is unconstitutional, and this submission-was upheld when the
matter went before the Appe-l Court. The Court found, however, that on
the doctrine of "state necessity", in order to avoid chaos, the Court had
to be deemed legal and valid.

The Appeal Court said also that, while it could not set a timetable for
parliament, it expected parliament to move with reasonable dispatch either
to take Grenada back into the Supreme Court of the Organisation of East
Caribbean States (OECS) the Court prsccribed in Grenada's constitution -
or constitutionally to set up a Court of its own.

The second motion, filed in August, argued basically that the "period of
temporary validity" conferred on the Grenada Supreme- Court by the Court of
Appe-l had expired, but Chief Justice Sir Archibald Nedd declined an in-
vitation by the Defence that he should take a "bold step" and say when
that validity would expire.

That matter now awaits hearing by the Court.of Appeal.

The motion filed on 7r-ptImber 26th, in common with the two previous motions,
also challenges the constitutionality of the Grenada Supreme Court and says
i "no basis in fact or law exists for the continued application of the doc-
trine of necessity",.
t -c-ntinued-

pa. THE GRENADA NE'-ISLETTSR "'eek Ending 28/9/85

But this motion goes further than the other two in that it challenges the
competence of the Grenada Supreme Court to hear any matter relative to the
infringement of constitutional rights.

The only Court competent to hear such matters, the motion says, is the O'CS
Supreme Court, and it asks that certain specific questions be referred to
that Court.

One question is whether "by reason of massive deliberate pre-trial publi-
city and all-pervasive prejudice!, the accused rights to a fair trial have
been contravened.

In support of this, the motion says that, after the death of Maurice Bishop
and others, :ren2a- "was subjected to a propagandi blitz by the intervening
United States forces which, commenced by portraying prominent members among
the accused as murderers and traitors by the use of large inescapable post-
ers"

"It became accepted as axiomatic that the accused persons cns'ired to mur-
der and did murder Maurice Bishop andiotther ~" the motion sqvs. "This con-
clusion was stated as fact, time and time against

This "extraordinary brainwashing process", the motion says, has created a
truly unparalleled situation where it can be stated flatly that an unpre-
judiced panel of jurors cannot be obtained in Grenada f-r trial of the case.

Another question the motion wishes to have referred to the OECS supreme
Court is whether the conditions by which the Grenada Supreme Court was given
"temporarily legal though unconstitutional status" have now ceased.

The motion argues that "Government and Parliament have had ample and full
executive and lcisl-.tive powers as well.as time and opportunity to restore
the constitutionality of the Courts" and, the Court is asked to declare that
the Grenada Supreme Court "is not only unconstitutional,but now illegal".

This motion has been set down for hearing on October 3rd.

DEATH TLT'iL.'.T TC TI ,'YFR

The Grenada police are providing protection following a death threat re-
ceived by Mr. Carlton Williams, one of the Jamaican Defence team in the
"Maurice Bishop" murder trial.

Mr. Williams told TIT"':IETTER on September 25th that, on September 23rd, in
the afternoon, his phone rang and, when he answered, a male voice said, "I
am going to kill you".

-continued-

Week Ending 28/9/85 THS GREE:DA !EWSLETTER Page 9

The caller hung up immediately but, some three hours later, the phone rang
again and, when it was answered, the person at the other end whistled
briefly before hringing up.

But there was a still further development shortly after three o'clock the
following morning.

"I was awakened by the sound of what sounded like a metal rod or a stick.
being struck against the wrought iron protecting my ground floor window",
Mr. "'illiams said, "and I saw something beinw pushed into the room through
the window".

That "something" could have been a metal rod, a stick or a gun, he said,
but, when he grabbed at it and shouted, it was withdrawn. When he turned
on the light, he saw nothing but, next morning, he found the wrought iron
grill was und:3,rm but the wire mesh mosquito protection on the window
had been cut.

Staying in the same house and also in a ground floor bedroom was Mrs. Rosa
Rnrmsy, wife/secretary to Jamaican queen's Counsel, Ian Ramsay, who has
been retained to defend Bernard and Phyllis Coard.

She told NE'1SLrTTER: that, about midnight, while she was reading, she heard
a "strnt.r- sound" at her window but had not paid much attention. She
thought it was "some sort of insect" trying to enter through the mosquito
wire mesh but, after Mr. williams reported his incident to her next morn-
ing, she inspected the mesh and found that it, too, had been cut,

Mr. Williams said the matter was reported to the Police who assured him of
protection and patrols in the area of his residence had been increased.

"This development, naturally, has caused us some concern", Mr. Williams
said, "but it has in no *.-y intimidated ne. Let me assure you that it
has not intimidated any of my coll:.--.ies either, nor will any similar de-
velopment in the future serve to do so".

THE M'r1FiTCE BISHOP [':.I I.T.AL A VTIv

There is likely to be another adjournnment in the "Maurice Bishop" murd'-r
trial when the High Court sits in its crm-inal jurisdiction on Tuesday
October 1st.

The adjournment may be made because of matLers relative to the case pending
in the Court's civil jurisdiction, and it will then be just 15 days short
of one year since the 19 accused were first arraigned before Chief Justice
Sir Archibald I.: :l to answer 11 c' '.- of murde-,

-continued-

page 10 THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER Week Ending 28/9/85

On that first day, 16th October 1984, the accused, not yet then represented
by Legal Counsel, refused to plead.

"I do not recognize the validity of this Court", Andy Mitchell, one of the
accused told Sir Archi bald, and that summed up the position of the 18 oth-
ers.

Challenge to the Court's validity was made in the High Court 8 days later
by Guyanese Defence Barrister, Mr. Clarence Hughes .

He argued that the Grenad3 Supreme Court, established by the Peoples Revo-
lutionary Government (PRG) after the 1979 revolution, was not legal.

Laws passed under the "basic norm" established by a Constitution remain
with the change of Government, he said, but laws passed by the PRG, includ-
ing laws establishing the Grenada Supreme Court, were passed on the "basic
norm" of the Government's strength and, when the PRG was overthrown so were
all its laws.

Sir Archibald did not accept Mr. Hughes' arguments nor did the Appeal Court
when this matter came before Justices J.O.F. Haynes, Nicholas Liverpool and
Sir Neville Peterkin last May.

The Appaal Court found the PRG appointed Grenada Supreme Court is, indeed,
unconstitutional but, under the doctrine of "state necessity", that Court
had to be seemed legal to avoid chaos.

president of the Appeal Court, Mr. Justice Haynes, said validity of the
Court will remain as long as necessity remains, but that does not mean for
ever. He assumed the Grenada Government would move with reasonable dis-
patch to regularise the matter constitutionally.

Grenada's Constitution stipulates that the country's Supreme Court is the
Organisation of East Caribbean States (OECS) Supreme Court which Grenada
shared with the other islands of the Windwards and Leewsrds before that
Court was abolished in Grenada by the PRG.

Legal sources say to regularise the position constitutionally, Grenada must
return to the OECS Supreme Court, or the Government must go through the pro-
cedure set out in the Constitution for setting up a separate Court for Gre-
nada.

Following the Appeal Court decision, a long series of adjournments followed,
due mainly to difficulty in retaining Defence Counsel.

Seventeen of the 19 accused are unable, financially, to employ Counsel and,
under Grenada's laws, the Court must retain, at its expense, Defence Counsel
for persons who are on a capital charge and are unable to pay for their
Sdefence.

-continued-
\___________________ _ ________-- .---i

Week Ead-ing-28/9/85 THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER Page 11

During the preliminary Inquiry in the Ma istratee -Court, the accused per-
sons retained a team of Jamaican Defence Barristers, headed by Queens
Counsel Mr. Howard Hamilton. There were lengthy negotiations by the Court
to retain this team for the trial and, on July 12th, the team was eventual-
ly retained to defend 17 of the accused.

The other 2 accused, Bernard and Phyllis Coard, wished to retain Jamaican
"Queens Counsel Mr. Ian Ramsay as their Counsel, and this was not finalised
until August 20th.

Further delays arose when, early in August, Defence Counsel filed a motion
in the Supreme Court accusing Commissioner of Prisons Lionel Maloney of in-
flicting "inhuman, degrading and other treatment" on the accused. That
action charged also that Attorneys-at-law rersenting the accused were be.-
ing denied adequate access to their clients..

The matter came before Sir Arehibald and, on 24th August, he issued a
Ceurt order on Mr. Maloney to correct the alleged matters complained of.

Early in August also, the Defence filed another motion reopening the matter
originally raised by Defence Counsel Mr. Clarence Hughes, the validity of
the Grenada Supreme Court.

This motion argued that the "period of temporary validity" bestowed by the
Appeal Court had expired, and Sir Archibald was invited to take a "bold
step" and say the Grenada Supreme Court was then illegal.

The Chief Justice declined the invitation and this matter will go before
the Court of Appeal scheduled to sit in Grenada on 25th November.

On August 28th, the Defence filed another motion charging that Mr. Maloney
was not obeying the Court order and asking that he be jailed for contempt
of Court.

Arguments were heard before Mr. Justice James patterson and, on September
24th, his decision went against the Defence on the grounds that the Court
order had not been filed on Mr. Maloney, personally, as required by the
rules of the Court.

That decision also will go before the Appeal C6urt in November.

In the meantime, another motion charging Commissioner Maloney with contempt
was filed on September 13th and a hearing has been set for October 3rd.

Also for hearing on October 3rd is a motion filed by the Defence -laiinin
that the Grenada Supreme Court is not competent to hear matters relating
to the violation of constitutional rights.

The OECS Supreme Court is the only Court competent to hear such matters,
the motion says. It says the accused constitutional rights to a fair
-continued-

Page 12 T T-: GT.ENADr NEIWSLETTER ::. Week Ending,28/9/85

trial have been--violated by pre-trial publicity and it asks .that this ques-
tion be sent to the OECS Court for-decision. '' 1*; '

All these motions are the concern of the High Court ih its civil jurisdic-
tion. On Tuesday October 1st, the Court sits in its criminal jurisdiction
when the taking of evidence, surrounding the murders can begin, but, with the'
various matters relative to the case pending in the civil .jurisdiction, that
sitting is likely to be no more than a formality to take another adjournment.

SGATRY PLANS STRIKE-,

an island-wide strike for Monday September 30th.

So says the front p`ge item of the-"Grenada Guardian", official organ of Sir
Eric"Gairy's GMMIt'IU and his Grenads United Labour Party4 The newspaper says
the strike will be clleQn odayOctober st". This error is corrected ..-
by informed sources who say the datl is Monday September 30th.

"On April 8th this year the GMMIWU wrote a letter, proposing wage increases
and improvement .o other conditions of work, to each.employer within the
framework of the Agricultural Industry of which the Government farms Corp-
oration (GFC) employs the largest number of workerst, the 'Guardian' says.
ItThe large majority of' em loyers, including GFC, never bothered even to ac-
knowledge receipt of the Union's letter".

GMMIWU is not a.Union on paper, ,the newspaper says, but a well-organised,
numerically powerful Union with a large number of certificates of recogni- "
tion from the Labour Department indicating the faris or work places where..
SGMMIWU has bargaining rights for the workers.

S"Six- months ago the Union' s, demands included .ECV12.00 aind Etc11.00..(per day)
take -home pay for male and female workers respectively 'effective January
.1st 1984", the tGuardian' says,.-"and a 60% overall increase effective the
same, day for all other categories of Worker in the industry, farm guards,
Scopra cutters, etc".

The."Guardian" learns, it says,"that the Union is now demanding EC-15,00 and
EC$14.'00 (per day) for male and female workers and an 80% increase for other
workers. The Union is also demanding a guaranteed 10 days of work per fort-
night, the new spper' says. ..

According toffigures supplieA by the Labour Department, GMMIrU has recogni-
tion on 12 estates and on the Government-owned Mirabeau A.gricultural Station.
It shares recognition with the Agricultural and Allied Workers Union (AAWU)
-continued-
'.- / ^ * *

"eek Ending 28/9/85 THE G'Er'ADA NEWSLETTER Page 13

on 7 estates with AAWU having recognition on 15 estates.

Minister for Labour, Dr. Francis Alexis, said at a public meeting on Sept-
ember 26th, that the Labour Department has not been notified of any break-
down in negotiations which would lead to a strike.

There are laws regulating the staging of strikes, the Minister said. He
predicted the GMMIT'tU efforts would end in failure and he warned thit he
would ask the Minister for National Security to ensure that the peace is
kept.

Current wage rates are ECH7.50 and EY..50 per day for women and men re-
spectively. Minister for Agriculture Mr. Ge-ree Brizan announced recent-
ly that on State farms, these rates would go up by EC42.00 per day effect-
ive October 1st.

ALEXIS: STRJIE V.ILI FAIL

Dr. Fr-ncis Alexis,Minister for Labour in the Grenada Government, on Sept-
ember 26th predicted failure for the strike in the island's agricultural
sector, said to be planned for September 30th.

This strike is reportEd to be organized by the Grenada Manual Maritime and
Intellectual workers Union (GIT'.'U) led by Sir Eric Gairy and, at a press
Conference, Dr. Alexis said no particular estates have been identified as
the ones against which the strike action is to be taken.

"The Ministry of Labour has not been informed of any issue or dispute which
can give rise to a strike", the Minister said. '""e have not been called
to conciliate between any Union and an Employer."

Dr. Alexis said his Government is making a "comprehensive and frontal as-
sault on the indignities to which agricultural workers traditionally have
been subjec-td" and, in the face of this, he is not surprised that "those
who say they have been leading agricultural w-rkpes are ranicking".

"They know only the politics of reaction and criticism", he said, "and
when they see their feet being cut from under them, what else can they do
but talk about strike?"

Without n-ming the Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement which staged an un-
successful demonstration on the previous weekend, the Minister referred o
that failure and said the planned strike would suffer the same fate.

"I can confidently expect that it (the strike) will end the way the 'mass-
ive demonstration' ended in St. George's last Saturday", he said, "with
six blind men trying to lead a crowd of six".,

-continued-

Page 14 THI GRENADA NEWSLETTER Week Ending 28/9/85'

With reference to Government's efforts to provide employment-opportunities,
the Minister said 51 persons have got jobs on Canadian farms, 25 will go in
October to similar jobs in the United States and 6 persons are in Bermuda on
a work/training venture in the hotel trade.

"Inside the country", Dr. Alexis said, "we have set up our employment office
and we have been finding jobs for a good many people".

Previous Governments destroyed labour statistics, the Minister said, and this
has proved a handicap to providing accurate figures but, fr-m wr-t figures
are available, there has been a drop of some 5~ in the unemployment figure
which is now estimated to stand at 29.5%.

"If that is not a matter for complacency", he said, "it certainly is a matter
which encourages hope".

Dr. Alexis said work permits are not issued to persons with skills which are
available among Grenadians either at home or abroad. And, he thinks the Gov-
ernment must chart its course between two "d.'.ngers".

"On the one hand, being so parochial that we stultify economic development
with the attitude of not wanting to see any non-Grenadian employed in the
country", he said, 'and, on the other hnid, flooding the country with people
who are taking bread away from Grenadian mouths".

The Labour Department is policing the work places, he said, and 5 people are
now before the Courts for working without a permit.

'The laws of this country require business people to affix postage stamps to
receipts" Dr. Alexis said* "I am asking the Labour Officers if they find
any employer selling and not issuing stamped receipts, and that person has a
work permit, I need that work permit immediately because I want to revoke it".

The Minister said there is no secret about Government's attitude in matters
such as this, and it will serve no purpose for anyone t- pl-?d frr a "chance"
for persons found breaking the Stamp Duty Lnws.

RADIX CH'".R3E IDEOLOGICALL PREiJUDICE"

Mr. Kendrick Radix, political Leader of the Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement
(MBPM), charged at a Press Conference on September 20th that some 40 Grenad-
Sian graduates of the University of Havana, Cuba, have been, in effect, denied
employment by the Government of crenrda.

SMr. Radix said these graduates returned in July and August and were interview-
ed by three Cabinet Ministers, Mr. George McGuire, Minister for Education, Dr.
SKeith Mitchell, Minister for Communications and Dr. Francis Alexis, Minister
for Labour.
' -continued-

Week Ending 28/9/85 THE 3RT'ADP N'SLETTER Page 15

Mr. McGuire told the graduates their qualifications have to be evaluated
by the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mr. Radix said, and he charged
that Government's attitude to the graduates is based on "ideological preju-
dice".

The graduates are entitled to work, firstly, he said, because they were
sent abroad by the peoples Revolutionary Government (PRG), the Government
of Grenada of that day, and have now c-mplcted their stuties.

"Secondly", he said, "they are entitled to work because our nation needs
their technical skills, thirdly, they are entitled to work because they
are starving as they have joined the list of some 40% unemployment".

Mr. Radix said the graduates cover a wide range of skills including dentist-
ry, veterinary science and economics and, as citizens of Grenada, they have
a natural right to work "without constitutional interference".

Mr. McGuire was out of the island and unavailable for comment but an inform-
ed source close to Government confirmed that these graduates were told
their qualifications will have to be evaluated by UWI. The source said
the gr-iuates were told also they would be employed as opportunities pre-
sent themselves.

At his Press Conference, Mr. Radix announced there will be a demonstration
on September 21st in favour of Chester Humphrpy, a member of the New Jewel
Movement, now held in prison and facing extradition to the United States
of America.

Mr. Humphrey is charged in the U.S. with illep-lly exporting arms to Gre-
nada prior to the 1979 revolution. He was granted bail in connection
with this matter but escared to Grenada. The extradition case has already
been heard in both the Magistrate's Court and the High C-urt, decisions in
both Courts going -aginst Mr. Humphrey, and he now awaits a hearing in the
Appeal Court.

"The people of Grenada as a whole have expressed the view through their
organizations, the Trade Union movement, to which Humphrey belonged", Mr.
Radix said, "and particularly the Trade Union Congress, has expressed the
view that Humfrey ought not to be extradited".

MBPM supports this and feels there is no binding and legal extradition
agreement between Gr-nada and the U.S.A.

The Political Leader commented on and condemned the military manoeuvers re-
cently held in St. Lucia under the code name "Exotic Palm".

Mr. Radix said the Special Services Units of the Islands of the Eastern
Caribbean, which took part in the manoeuvers, have been organisedd, equip-
Sped and trained" by the United States to suporcss legitimate grievances of
the people. -continued-

page 16 THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER werk Ending 28/9/85

Westindians do not face any invasion from a foreign power, he said, the pro-
blems of the Caribbean are economic.

"The United States has used the 'red herring' of communist subversion in this
hemisphere, particularly in Latin America", Mr. Radix said, "and we have seen
the aiding and abetting by the United States of many right wing fascist reg-
imes which liquidate people in the name of democracy".

Mr. Radix said, since October 1983 when the United States intervened in Gre-
nada, between April 19-4 and March 1985, five young men in Grenada have been
killed by the police. The Political Leader named the men and said in none of
these killings has there been a coroner's inquest or police inquiry.

"We in Grenada, seeing the 'fall out' of the American invasion of our country
in 1983", he said, "reiterate our call for the withdrawal of all foreign mil-
itary forces in our own country and from the rest of the Caribbean".

Mr. Radix said electricity, telephones, employment and national transporta-
tion are all "in crisis", and he suggested that Government should approach
the Governments of Czechlovakia and East Germany to resuscitate the arrange-
ments the peoples Revolutionary Government had made with the Governments of
those countries for the development, respectively, of Grpna a's electricity
and telephone services

,EBPM DEMO[IU:;STRIATI ON

The Maurice Bishop patriotic Movement (the remnant of the Bishop faction in
the Maurice Bishop/Bernard Coard split in,the New Jewel Movement which re-
sulted in a bloody coup in October 1983) on September 21st staged a:demon-
stration in downtown St. George's in support of Chester Humphrey, a former
NJM member now held in jail facing extradition .proceedings.

Mr. Humphrey is charged in the United States with illegally exporting weap-
ons to Grenada prior to the NJM revolution of 1979.

He escaped from the U.:S.A. while nn bail and has since had both the Magis-
trate's Court and High Court grant the request of the U.S. Justice Depart-
ment for his extradition. He now awaits a hearing in the Appeal Court.

Both Mr. Kendrick Radix, MBFPM Political Leader and Mr, Einstein Louison,
another prominent MEHPM member, addressed a crowd of some 100 persons# con-
demning the proceedings against Humphrey and calling for his release.

Following the addresses, a group of some 8 or 10 .'Pr"M su-Drters na-raed
through the streets carrying prc-Hunmphrey banners.

A Grenadian newspaper has warned the Government of prime Minister Herbert
Blaize of the danger of subversion posed by the return to the island of
45 students who have qualified in universities in Cuba and the Soviet Union.

These dsudents, returning to ,3renflu in July and August, were interviewed
by three Cabinet Ministers, and it is reported that the students were as-
sured there is no hostility towards them- nd Government will endeavour to
find them jobs,

In a front pi-e editorial on the weekend of September 21st, the "Grenadian
Voice" ncwsp- per says, "we applaud the generous attitude nf the Ministers
and the Government for it is still our desire to see our people united and
all wounds healed, but we must be realistic and it is therefore well that
we should get the record straight".

After the Military Intervention in 1983, the "V-ice" r-ints out, the Inter-
im Administration invited all Grenadian students in communist countries to
return home, at the expense of Government, if necessary.

They were offered the opportunity to be sent to institutions in other count-
ries to complrpte their studies, and 40 students are reported to have accept-
ed this opportunity.

"The 45 just returned are among those who elected to remain where they
were", the 'Voice' says, "and this alone seems to give them a particular
stamp".

"Then there is the hair-raising story told by at least one young man who
returned from Ruj-sia", the Voice says, "about how he had to get away and'
what he was being taught".

It is to be expected that, given the chlnpge in circumstances in Grenada,
special attention will have been paid to the role these students will be
expected to play, the "Voice" En-s.

"It is well, therefore, that we should face up to the reality that, while
these people-will have acquired certain academic qualifications," the
'Voice' says, "they also come equipped with other special 'skills' ".

"We therefore advise our Ministers that, while being fener-us", the 'Voice'
says, "they must keep their eyes wide open and proceed with caution",

This matter arises out of an incident in Mr. Patterson's chambers, follow-
ing which Mr. Knight was arrested and charged with contempt of Court.

Mr. patterson found Mr. Knight guilty, charged him EC$5,000 with costs of
ECS1,000, and sentenced him to serve 6 weeks of "ordinary imprisonment".

The matter went to the Appeal Court which, last May, set aside the sentence
but upheld the conviction.

"We believe the practitioner has suffered enough"l the President of the Ap-
peal Court, Mr. Justice J.C.F. Haynes said.

Mr. Knight's writ contends that the warrant to arrest him was "issued with-
out lawful authority" and that Mr. Patterson "knew or nught reas-nably to
have known that he had no authority in law to issue the said .wrrant"r

In addition to compensation payable by Mr. Patterson, Mr. Knight wants the
warrant for his.arrest and all consequential documents destroyed in his pre-
sence or'the presence of his representative.

Mr. Knight was recently appointed to the Senate by Governor General Sir Paul
Scoon on the recommendation of Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Marcel peters,

*afitWlla-- -aa

.'LEXIS: LOC-.L YVZ J'N INT BY JUrE 1986

Dr. Francis Alexis, Minister for Labour, snid on September 26th the demo-
cracy being built in Grenada is not on which can be exploited and prosti-
tuted.

Dr& Alexis was speaking on the occasion of the formal opening of the refur-
bished St. George's market, and he issued a warning iginrst those who would
employ violence.

"They have had their day", he said. "They have shown us what they will do
with guns. They will shoot down men, women and children so, when we cap-
ture the gun runners, they will be dealt with according to law".

The Minister said the New National Party Government believes in democracy
and the freedom of the people, but it should be understood that "those who
try to bring guns into the; country via St. Vincent or through a sea port"
are on warning.

"While we are committed to building democracy", he said, "we shall not
stand idly by and see that democracy subverted by those hooligans who know
no law but the law of the gun, and the violence which will allow them to
execute anybody, even those they say they love".

Intellectual Workers Utni6n (CIMMITU) and said the procedure for a strike, as
laid down by law, had not'been complied with.

The Ministry of Labour has not been advised-by any Union that negotiations
have'broken down with any employer, he said, and, if there is a strike, he
would ask the Minister of National Security to take steps to ensure that
peace is maintained.

"There is a place for mad people", he said, "and it is not in the agricul-
tural sector of this country".

Referring to the refurbished market, Dr. Alexis said the project had been
financed by the United States .'Fcncy f-r Internati-nal Devel.-wmpnt (USAID)
and had cost LC:2C2,584.74.

"We take time out to express full -pprciation and thanks to USAID for
their contribution", he -saidc

The Minister referred also to the concern which has arisen in some quarters
with reference to the health of prime Minister Herbert Blaize who was hos-
pitalised at '--1ter Reid United States Military Hospital early in September
for radiology treatment.

"There are'those who would li..e to believe the worst", he said. -They
would like to believe th,-it P. ime Minister Blaize is not-as well-.'as he says
but, only to.:y, we got a computer print-out from Washington setting out
the activities the Prime Minister has been engaged in".

These include discussions relative to "the entrenchin' 'of democracy", the
boat-building ind'-ustry, the information service, water and 'road development
and medical equipment for Grenada, .he"-sid, and a man eng-ied in such act-
ivities is certainly destined to "rescue" Grenada for at least the next 5
years.

The Minister referred to the "consultations" His Ministry has had through-
out the country to.ascertain the form of Local Government GrenAdians want
and he said l1-giilation in. this connection was then being drafted.

Local Government was abolished 'n "',C''by -the then Government of ^ir Eric
Gairy and Dr. Alexis said the s'iu of -. l 9 million is being proposed for
the 1986 budget to finance .-- rtntrcuct ioh o'fl Lal Government.

Following a revision of the electoral list, he said, Local Government
elections should take place by June 19'6.
I ^-~~~.------1,

I i

4

TH.: '-T.7L .rIDA NEWSLFTTER

Week Ending 2/9/685

Page 19

,

Page 20 THE GRETADA NEWSLETTER Week Ending 28/9/85

FCUR HOTEL PRCJECT.j "OFF THE GROUND"

Mr. George Brizan, Minister of Agriculture and Tourism, said in an interview
on September 17th that Government had approved 17 applications for develop-
ments in the Tourism sector, and 4 of these are already "off the ground".

Chief among them is the Government-owned "Grenada Beach Hotel" which has
been leased to Issa Nicholas (Grenada) Ltd. and is to be handled by the Uni-
ted States based hotel management firm of Ramada Inns International.

"Reconstruction of the 'Grenada Beach' is progressing at a ranid rate", the
Minister said, "and the target is to put that hotel into commercial use by
the end of November or early December".

Two other hotels on which work has started are being constructed, respect-
ively by the Grenadian firms of Fox Enterprises and Southern Range Enter-
prises. The fourth project on which work has started, the Minister said,
is expansion of the existing "Blue Horizons" hotel.

Mr. Brizan said a fifth hotel project had been started in Grenqda's sister
island of Carriacou, but came to a stop some 4 weeks ago and his Ministry
is trying to find out what caused this.

"Once we have been able to ascertain what the problem is", he said, "if they
are not able to proceed, we will then, no doubt, pass it on to someone who is
willing to continue with this project".

The Minister said projects already approved will give Grenida 1,461 additional
hotel beds which are expected to generate employment for 1,600 people.

With reference to the coming tourist season, Mr. Brizan said, the industry is
enjoying an up-swing.

"In the summer of 1984, there were "nly 9 cruise ship calls anA this increas-
ed to 45 in the summer of 1985", he said. "In the calpndgr VPar Iq14 there
was a total of 65 cruise ship calls and this year, 175 have been scheduled".

Looking ahead to 1986, the Minister said in the January to April period, 194
calls are scheduled and the chances are that the 1986 target of 200 calls will
be exceeded.

The Minister feels, however, the island lacks certain facilities.

"Grenada is certainly an idyllic country", he said, "but there are no shop-
ping facilities and that is what we have to create almost immediately".

Mr. Brizan felt also something has to be done about the harassment visitors
suffer from vendors at the dock area and the inadequacy of Customs and Im-
migration facilities at Pcint Saline International Airport with reference
to large aircraft.

-continued-
i~~-

Week Ending 28/9/85 TH7 GETIADA NEWSLETTER Page 21

"The airportt Authority is well aware of the slow movement of people through
the airport", he said, "and I have been told steps are being taken to in-
crease Immigration and Customs personnel when Jets have to be handled".

This problem will disappear when the Arrival Section of the Terminal Build-
ing is opened, he said, and while the stated deadline -f October is not
likely to be achieved, he thinks the Arrival Secti-n wil be in operation
by the end of the year,

The Minister thinks the harassment of visitors by vendors at the docks is
"shocking" and believes the solution is establishment of a vendors market
at some other location.

Government is actively looking for another location for the vendors, he
said, and consideration is being given to a plot of land on the other side
of the harbour.

Concerning agriculture, the other leg of his Ministry, Mr. Brizan says the
problem with bananas has been that of "packing", field packing having prov-
en to minimise fruit damage as compared with packing at the boxing plants.

For the first 4 months of this year, he said, 25% of bananas were packed
in the field, by ..ugust this figure had increased to 44% and the industry
will achieve a target of 60% by year end.

"In the case of cocoa", the Minister said, "the market price continues to
be reasonably good at about .1,800 sterling per long ton".

This is the contract price at which the Cocoa Association sold a large
part of its crop in the "futures" market, he said,

"But production in.1984 was 600,000 pounds I te th~n 4n 1 Rt". he said,
"and that problem is the effect of 5 or 6 ye-rs of neglect resulting from
farmers' frustration, lack of confidence and poor moral".

Another problem is the age of some of the plantations which have moved be-
yond their optimum production and should be replaced by new plants.

"It is almost an exercise in frustration for the extension officers to
convince a farmer that a 36 year old tree, which is probably still giving
a few pounds, must be replaced by a s-edling".

A third difficulty is effective disease control which is beyond the finan-
cial capability of the Cocoa Association.

The Minister said Government's agricultural policy includes diversification
of the island's crops and, on June 20th, an agreement was signed with the
World Bank for a loan to be applied in this connection.

"The process is that the World Bank account is always at 4500,000" he said,
"but we draw from that account to finance a series of infrastructural
-continued-

With reference to nutmegs, Mr. Brizan said he would be disappointed if pro-
duction in 1985 is not greater than in 1954 because farmers are receiving
more money for this crop and that is a powrful incentive to produce.

"The price has come up in recent times", he said, "but more important, the
Nutmeg Association and Government have decided to enter into a joint venture
with a Belgian firm for the distillation of nutmeg oil".

The Association will hold majority shares in the venture, he said, the Bel-
gian firm will hold about 40%o and the 7'orld Bank is to be invited to hold
some 5% of the shares

FREE PPESS SEM"TIN.R

Mr. George McGuire, Minister of Education in the Gren-dn Government, refer-
ring to the rule of the Peoples Revolution-ry Government from 1979 to 1983,
said he had seen the rights and privileges of Grenadians disappear because
they had not understood that freedom is its greatest enemy if there are no
social controls.

The Minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of a week-lone seminar on
"The Free press in a Free Society" sponsore-d jointly by the Jamaica-based
Bustamante Institute of Public and International Affairs and the "Grenadian
Voice" newspn-per.

"We in Grenada suffered bitterly under the Hammer and Sickle", he said, "be-
cause the Free Press had no rights, no high duty to perform, no rights to
instruct, to inquire, to criticize and to organise".

Mr. McGuire said- he is not on the side of those, who. would muzzle the press
"like some common dog l.Urking and biting at the bone of individual liberty
and freedom".

j"But there must be social controls without :,t:uz.linp the press", he said,
t"and the press must come to realise it can function for the benefit of demo-
Scracy only if it is responsible, repon.i;ve and if it has a conscience".

Mr. McGuire said the individual is the basic source of values and the Free
Press can sustain a democracy only if it is relentlessly served by men and
.women of good will.

"There are always conflicts in a free society", he said. "There are con-
Iflicts between conservatives who urge return to former standards and
i

Week Ending 28/9/85 THE C;E.DA NEWLETTE page 23

practices, and radicals who -advocate-change".

The Free press must clarify the question of values with understanding and
integrity, he said.

"Some newspapers ride many horses", Mr. McGuire slaid, "plch nne ,allnning
wildly in different directions.- They c-nfue~ tbh "ixb'i'c ni l c-nls results
We are suffering from this deficiency very badly in the present Grenada
scheme of things".

The Free Press can serve the interests of a Free Society if it learns to-
distinguish between right and wrong, he said, and, no matter what con-
straints threaten its existence, if it is always on the side of right..

"As we say in Grenada", the Minister said, 'The right alone is right, the
wrong is always wrong'. "

Mr. McGuire said widespread discussion and deliberation are the surest way
to bring about fair and equitable solutions to disputed issues, and he
stands for "reasoned judgement" of the majority.

He does not stand merely for the will of the majority, he said, because the
will of the majority does not always sustain a democracy. If it lacks
reason and intelligent judgement, the Minister said, ultimately, that will
cannot avoid anarchy and tyranny.

The Seminar had 10 participants, 3 from Grcnqda, 2 from St. Lucia and one
each from St. Vincent, Dominica, Antigua, St. Kitts and Belize.

MEDICAL SCHOOL STAGES ESSAY CONTEST

Four Grenadian secondary school students shared on September 17th in over
EC$2,000 prize money donated by the St. Georges University School of Medi-
cine, in an essay contest.

Theme of the essay was "How do Grenadians see themselves benefiting from a
National Health Service" and the first prize was annexed by Maurine Victor
of St. Joseph's Convent School who won from a field of 52 entries.

Second prize of r'".750 went to Ronda James of Boca Secondary School and the
third prize of EC$500 was taken by J. Keens-Douglas of Presentation College.

Presenting the prizes and certificates, Dr. Geoffrey Bourne, Vice-Chancel-
lor of the School, said there had been a fourth entry which the judges
thought worthy of recognition.

That is the entry of Karen Noel of St. Jospeh's Convent Sch-tran. she re-
ceived a consolation prize of FCr1OO (37.00 US)

-continued-

THE GRENADA NE'/SL"TTER

Attending the ceremony on the campus of the Medical School was Ms. Grace
Duncan, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health. She compli-
mented the school authorities for organisinP the competition and offeredd
congratulations to the winners.

Also present were the Principals of the schools attended by the winners,
representatives of the Ministry of Health and members of the faculty of the
School of Medicine.

U.S. SHIP VISITS

The United States ship "Semmes", a guided missile destroyer, arrived at
Grenada on September 19th for a three day visit,

"Semmes", under Commander Gilbert P. Lauzon and with a complement of 24
officers and 330 enlisted men, took part in the "Exotic Palm" military ex-
ercise held recently in St. Lucia.'

While tn Grenada, the "Semmes" drew, with members of the Special Services
Unit of the Royal Grenada Police Force, undertook a civil action project in
the refurbishing of an old folks home in the Grand Anse-area.

Christened in 1961, the "Semmes" is 437' long with a displacement of 4,500
tons.